China-made Benz to go to Asia markets

DAIMLER AG, the world's largest maker of commercial vehicles, plans to start selling Chinese-made Mercedes-Benz vans in other Asian markets as soon as next year, its local partner said.

"Daimler will use our venture as its Asian manufacturing base," Ling Yuzhang, chairman of Fujian Motor Industry Group Co, said in Beijing yesterday.

The US$284 million venture, in southeastern Fujian Province, will initially export 15 percent of its output. That's about 6,000 vehicles a year.

The German automaker may join Honda Motor Co and Chrysler LLC in exporting China-made vehicles as the country's low wages make production cheaper than in other markets. China's auto exports surged 88 percent in the first quarter and may exceed 1 million this year, the Commerce Ministry said.